Friday, March 24
BOZEMAN
10 a.m.
Montana State University
4
vs
3
Idaho
MSU's Mirte Van Baelen posted a 6-4, 6-3 win over Idaho's Valentina Rodas at No. 3 singles on Friday afternoon.
Photo by: Garrett Becker
Bobcats Take Home Opener in Dramatic Fashion
3/24/2023 6:06:00 PM | Women's Tennis
“At 4-2, she came up to me and said, ‘this is a match you won’t forget coach.’
Playing at home for the first time this season- a span of 66 days since its season-opening win at Chicago State – the Montana State women's tennis team received a gutsy effort from junior Jazmin Lerman at No. 6 singles to pull out a 4-3 victory over Idaho in its first action at the Bobcat-Anderson Tennis Center on Friday afternoon.
Idaho (3-10, 1-3) took the first point of the match, sweeping all three doubles contests.
"In doubles, Idaho played a little more aggressive on the big points and we just didn't execute," said MSU first-year head coach Suzie Woodburn. "After doubles, we had a talk on how it was going to take everyone on our team to go out and get four points. And, when we came out we focused on attitude, concentration, and effort."
Montana State (4-10, 1-3) newcomer Izabela Heinzova started singles, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Rachelle Starreveld at No. 2 on the ladder. "Izabela loved playing at home in front of such a great crowd," Woodburn said. "She thrived and played big girl tennis. She really competed and started the momentum for us."
MSU went up 2-1 as Mirte Van Baelen notched a 6-4, 6-3 win over Valentina Rodas at No. 3, before the Vandals answered with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the top spot to even the match. Bobcat junior Felicia Jayasaputra gave MSU a 3-2 advantage with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles.
No. 5 singles went to Idaho as Jayanne Palma rallied from an opening 6-2 setback to notch a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over JJ Chen, forcing the deciding match at No. 6.
Lerman opened play at No. 6 rallying from a 6-4 deficit in a tiebreaker to record an 8-6 win and grabbing the first set from Lena Beckx. Leading 2-1 in the second set, Lerman suffered leg cramps forcing her to call an injury timeout. Following a short delay, Beckx captured five of six games, forcing a third set. Beckx jumped out to an early 4-2 lead as Lerman struggled from the service line searching for any type of power.
"We just told her to get one, one more shot, make one more ball and keep fighting," Woodburn said. "At 4-2, she came up to me and said, 'this is a match you won't forget coach.' She wasn't going to give up and she was resilient, and knew, and believed, she was going to get the win."
Lerman dug down deep and rattled off four straight games to clinch the match in a 6-4 decision, giving MSU its first Big Sky Conference win of the season.
"The middle of line-up was incredibly strong and then for it to come down to the last match and get the win was huge," Woodburn said. "And it was our passion, energy, and fight that helped us get us the win.
"This win gives us good momentum," Woodburn added. "We needed a breakthrough match, and we got it in front of our home crowd. It will give us the confidence to keep pushing towards our goals."
MSU plays at Northern Arizona on April 2.
Montana State 4, Idaho 3
Doubles:
1- Lena Beckx and Annabel Davis (UI) def. Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Mirte Van Baelen (MSU) 6-3
2- Jayanne Palma and Valentina Rodas (UI) def. Andrea Cuquerella and Izabela Heinzova (MSU) 6-3
3- Saffron Dowse and Rachelle Starreveld (UI) def. JJ Chen and Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-4
Singles:
1- Annabel Davis (UI) def. Marta Garcia-Reboredo (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
2- Izabela Heinzova (MSU) def. Rachelle Starreveld (UI) 6-2, 6-1
3- Mirte Van Baelen (MSU) def. Valentina Rodas (UI) 6-4, 6-3
4- Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) def. Selin Sepken (UI) 6-2, 6-2
5- Jayanne Palma (UI) def. JJ Chen (MSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
6- Jazmin Lerman (MSU) def. Lena Beckx (UI) 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4
Idaho (3-10, 1-3) took the first point of the match, sweeping all three doubles contests.
"In doubles, Idaho played a little more aggressive on the big points and we just didn't execute," said MSU first-year head coach Suzie Woodburn. "After doubles, we had a talk on how it was going to take everyone on our team to go out and get four points. And, when we came out we focused on attitude, concentration, and effort."
Montana State (4-10, 1-3) newcomer Izabela Heinzova started singles, cruising to a 6-2, 6-1 decision over Rachelle Starreveld at No. 2 on the ladder. "Izabela loved playing at home in front of such a great crowd," Woodburn said. "She thrived and played big girl tennis. She really competed and started the momentum for us."
MSU went up 2-1 as Mirte Van Baelen notched a 6-4, 6-3 win over Valentina Rodas at No. 3, before the Vandals answered with a 6-4, 6-4 victory at the top spot to even the match. Bobcat junior Felicia Jayasaputra gave MSU a 3-2 advantage with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4 singles.
No. 5 singles went to Idaho as Jayanne Palma rallied from an opening 6-2 setback to notch a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over JJ Chen, forcing the deciding match at No. 6.
Lerman opened play at No. 6 rallying from a 6-4 deficit in a tiebreaker to record an 8-6 win and grabbing the first set from Lena Beckx. Leading 2-1 in the second set, Lerman suffered leg cramps forcing her to call an injury timeout. Following a short delay, Beckx captured five of six games, forcing a third set. Beckx jumped out to an early 4-2 lead as Lerman struggled from the service line searching for any type of power.
"We just told her to get one, one more shot, make one more ball and keep fighting," Woodburn said. "At 4-2, she came up to me and said, 'this is a match you won't forget coach.' She wasn't going to give up and she was resilient, and knew, and believed, she was going to get the win."
Lerman dug down deep and rattled off four straight games to clinch the match in a 6-4 decision, giving MSU its first Big Sky Conference win of the season.
"The middle of line-up was incredibly strong and then for it to come down to the last match and get the win was huge," Woodburn said. "And it was our passion, energy, and fight that helped us get us the win.
"This win gives us good momentum," Woodburn added. "We needed a breakthrough match, and we got it in front of our home crowd. It will give us the confidence to keep pushing towards our goals."
MSU plays at Northern Arizona on April 2.
Montana State 4, Idaho 3
Doubles:
1- Lena Beckx and Annabel Davis (UI) def. Marta Garcia-Reboredo and Mirte Van Baelen (MSU) 6-3
2- Jayanne Palma and Valentina Rodas (UI) def. Andrea Cuquerella and Izabela Heinzova (MSU) 6-3
3- Saffron Dowse and Rachelle Starreveld (UI) def. JJ Chen and Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) 6-4
Singles:
1- Annabel Davis (UI) def. Marta Garcia-Reboredo (MSU) 6-4, 6-4
2- Izabela Heinzova (MSU) def. Rachelle Starreveld (UI) 6-2, 6-1
3- Mirte Van Baelen (MSU) def. Valentina Rodas (UI) 6-4, 6-3
4- Felicia Jayasaputra (MSU) def. Selin Sepken (UI) 6-2, 6-2
5- Jayanne Palma (UI) def. JJ Chen (MSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
6- Jazmin Lerman (MSU) def. Lena Beckx (UI) 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-4
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,2,3
#1 Singles Match
12
Annabel Davis / 0 [UI]
66
44
#2 Singles Match
12
Rachelle Starreveld / 0 [UI]
21
66
#3 Singles Match
12
Valentina Rodas / 0 [UI]
43
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Selin Sepken / 0 [UI]
22
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Jayanne Palma / 0 [UI]
266
623
#6 Singles Match
123
Lena Beckx / 0 [UI]
664
736
Order of Finish:
2,3,1,4,5,6
Players Mentioned
S/D
/ Women's Tennis
S/D
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
S/D
/ Women's Tennis
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/ Women's Tennis
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